Cyclone Nargis Flashcards
Timeline of events
27/08/08 - Classified as a deepening depression
28/04/08 - Upgraded to cyclone storm
29/04/08 - Very severe cyclonic storm Wind speeds up to 160mph
02/03/08 - Category 4 storm Peak winds of 215 mph
03/03/08 - Last warning and weakened as it approaches Thailand/Burma border
Level of development in affected countries
LEDC’s
Sri Lanka main export is agriculture, so will be damaged by the storm
Population of affected area was 3.5 million with a population density of 100/km2
Key facts
Sri Lanka also experienced impacts from the 2005 boxing day Tsunami so had less time to recover which has since affected how they are able to develop as they experience natural hazards more frequently than other countries
Short term impacts
$10 billion in damages
450000 houses destroyed and 350000 houses damaged - 75% of buildings collapsed
Majority of population worked in agriculture so lost harvest income
Sri Lanka experienced heavy rainfall which resulted in flooding and landslides
Most popular killed by a 3.5m wall of water
Long term impacts
Children become orphans
Diseases spread
50000 people still missing
138000 dead
2.4 million severely affected
Structural damage caused 1 million people to become homeless
60,000 hectares of agricultural land damaged
Now recognised as Burma’s worst ever natural disaster and worst Asian cyclone since 1991
Short term responses
Military did not want foreign people to enter the country and so refused aid from others
Government unprepared for the disaster
Took a week before the Burmese government to accept foreign aid in the form of food, medicine and basic food Foreign workers still not permitted
Long term responses
Aid workers finally permitted 3 weeks after disaster
US donated $41 million in relief efforts including help from the American red cross
Indian Navy + Airforce supplied 140 tonnes of food, tents, medicines, 50 medical personnel and 2 mini hospitals
UK gave £17 million and sent an international relief team
